January 15th,  2021
As we continue to navigate this challenging time together, I want to update you on our in-person worship experiences and community use gatherings. Church leadership has been regularly assessing our current practices and mitigation strategies and accessing the best local public health information available.
 
We continue to be concerned about our in-person experience and the potential for Covid-19 exposures to our members, staff, and volunteers. However, I would like to begin developing a volunteer team so that we are able to come back inside as the numbers go down. One factor that instigated this latest pause was the growing concerns that we were unable to staff in-person worship experiences with willing and trained volunteers.
Folks became---rightfully so--- increasingly cautious and unwilling to volunteer for in-person gatherings. These volunteers are critically important to keeping a safe environment in gatherings.
 
Obviously the latest Christmas holiday spike is affecting our communities and has increased the risks of being exposed over the last several weeks.. We are able to continue all of our on-line worship experiences and youth and children ministries. We have been able to continue our Parking Lot worship experience without disruption as well. And we will continue to staff the church office and answer the needs of the community.

We want to continue to keep the safety and well-being of our church volunteers, staff, and members as a priority as we are awaiting the spike to subside. This pause has committed Shalom to being an excellent community partner in helping mitigate the potential for transmission in our community. This pause has also kept our church community Covid-19 free at this time as well, thanks be to God and your continued support and consideration.
We will be evaluating daily, starting next Monday, the numbers and other situations surrounding this virus. It is my hope that we will gather in-person in the worship center again within a few weeks as the risk potential numbers fall.

We will continue to keep you updated about any change or return to our in-person activities. Thank you in advance for you continued support and flexibility during this pandemic stressed time.

Pastor Ken​


November 15, 2020
​As we navigate this challenging time together, I want to update you on some important changes and considerations regarding our in-person worship experiences and community use gatherings such as Yoga and AA. As you may already know there are significant spikes in COVID-19 cases, a rising infection rate, and mounting hospitalizations in our area…
 
This is different than this past summer where Livingston county seemed spared from escalating infection. We are in the midst of this situation as well. Church leadership has been regularly assessing our current practices and mitigation strategies and accessing the best local public health information available. And recently the ELCA Southeast Michigan Synod also issued updated guidelines for the need and timing of suspending in-person Sunday worship.
 
Pastor Jonathan and I are extremely worried about our in-person experience and the potential for Covid-19 exposures to our members, staff, and volunteers. At this time, I have growing concerns that we will be unable to staff in-person worship experiences with willing and trained volunteers. Folks are becoming---rightfully so--- increasingly cautious and unwilling to volunteer for in-person gatherings. These volunteers are critically important to keeping a safe environment in gatherings.
 
Many businesses and schools too are becoming unable to continue operations due to staffing issues because employees are ill or quarantined. We are able to continue all of our on-line worship experiences and youth and children ministries. We are able to continue our Parking Lot worship experience without disruption as well. And we will continue to staff the church office to collect Thanksgiving food program donations and continue to keep our offices open to do ministry.

Taking all of this into consideration we will be pausing in-person worship experiences on Sunday’s at 9:30 starting next week for two weekends. I am taking this action in response to all the factors I have mentioned and for the safety and well-being of our church volunteers, staff, and members. This pause also allows us to be a good community partner in helping mitigate the potential for transmission in our community.
This pause will keep us safe through what we can only hope will be the worst of this spike. We will be evaluating every few days the numbers and other situations surrounding this virus. It is my hope that we will gather in-person in the worship center again within a few weeks.

We will continue to keep you updated about any change or return to our in-person activities. Thank you in advance for you continued support and flexibility during this pandemic stressed time.
​
May you walk with God each day and see the miracles of creation surrounding you!
Pastor Ken
 


September 17, 2020
We want to take a moment to say how excited we are to share some news about our fall ministry and programming plans! First, we have begun to have some more in-person opportunities.  We know that we are each at various places regarding our perceptions and comfort levels about the threat of the virus and the important safety protocols we have, by necessity, implemented to keep you and our community as safe as we possibly can. We so appreciate your willingness to abide by our safety protocols whenever you are present on any of our campuses.  Following these protocols is one of most important things we can do to keep moving forward in opening our facilities back up. Abiding by these protocols allows us to witness to our faith as found in scripture; Jesus' command to love others and Paul's admonition in Philippians 2: Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
As we return to offering more in-person worship and groups, we want to assure you that we will continue a strong online ministry presence and alternatives such as parking lot worship as well.  We do not want anyone to feel any pressure to return to in-person gatherings before they are ready, and for some that could be quite a while.  For as long as it takes, we will do everything we can to stay connected with you and fully engaged in growing together in faith, both online and in-person. We also trust that you will continue to be patient, understanding, and very flexible as we move forward, knowing that at any time our plans might need to be altered for the sake of safety, the best utilization of resources (time, personnel, funds, etc.), and to ensure the greatest impact and reach of our life-giving and world-transforming ministries.  Thank you so very much for your continuing prayers and generous support during this unprecedented time!
Below  you will find our current Fall Worship and Ministry Plan.  This is a plan that we will revise as needed or as new opportunities become possible.  In the meantime, it is a way forward, that helps us gather in multiple ways as safely as possible. Included in this mailing is the latest version of Calvary's safety protocols and information about our Fall kick-off worship on September 27th and the 40 Days fall program starting the week of the 27th. Please, take a few minutes to, thoughtfully and prayerfully review both the plan and the protocols, and let us know if you have any additional thoughts or questions. We are eager to be with you in-person or online, and we hope you will continue to share our faith in Jesus and invite others  to join with us as we move into these 40Days - Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, and all that the future will hold. 
In Christ's Service - Blessed to Be a Blessing!
Pastor Ken Greble      Amy Cooley Higgs       Tony Giamanco      Nancy Solomon     Ilona Lopez
   
                                                                       Shalom Fall Worship & Ministry Plan - October 2020
This plan will remain flexible and responsive to changing circumstances.  It will change if Michigan goes backward in phases, the state issues specific directives impacting our plan, or we have a spike in cases or a specific outbreak in Pinckney or at Shalom.  This plan is contingent on our region of Michigan being in phase 4 or above and will also change if the COVID-19 protocols are not consistently and conscientiously followed by all leaders and participants in worship and other ministry activities.    Safe Start Team ~
 
*All protocols (Click Here) should be followed while being present during events and
worship experiences.
*Each worship experience offers personal communion using individual cups
or use your own juice, wine, and bread.
 
 
                                                         Week of October 4th and Ongoing Community Renewal and Growth Begins!

• 9:30am Parking Lot Worship. (Continues in a new location on Campus-Simply follow the volunteers)
• 9:30 am Inside (Worship Center) Worship Experience - Limited seating – Pre-registration suggested call the church office or arrive early!
• We are the Church! Mini-Series starts this week!  (There is always a seat open!)

• Programming for children, youth and families continues and can add on new folks.
• Wednesdays at 1 pm  worship experience in person up to 60 people in the worship center.